Head of Japan's Olympic Committee beneath investigation in France on suspicion of corruption

PARIS (Reuters) – The president of Japan’s Olympic Committee, Tsunekazu Takeda, is beneath formal investigation by French prosecutors for suspected corruption associated to Japan’s profitable bid to host the 2020 Olympic Video games, a French judicial supply stated on Friday.

In Tokyo, Takeda stated no improper actions similar to bribery had taken place in reference to Tokyo’s video games bid and he had not been indicted by French authorities.

Below French regulation, indictment means he’s now being handled as a “formal suspect” however a full indictment comes solely as soon as the case goes to courtroom.

“I apologise for the massive worries which have been delivered to the folks of Japan, who’ve given a lot help to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and with a purpose to put each doubt to relaxation I intend to proceed cooperating with investigations,” he stated.

The Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC) stated it had been in shut contact with French judicial authorities. Its ethics committee has opened a file on the case and would meet afterward Friday.

“Mr Takeda continues to benefit from the full presumption of innocence,” the IOC stated in a press release.

Takeda can also be an IOC member since 2012 and heads its advertising and marketing fee.

In 2016, French prosecutors introduced an investigation into greater than $2 million of funds made by the Japanese bidding committee to a Singaporean consultancy agency, Black Tidings.

In 2017, Takeda and several other others had been voluntarily questioned by Japanese prosecutors on the request of French authorities in relation to the funds, Kyodo Information company reported on the time. Takeda and the others had denied any wrongdoing, Kyodo stated.

Japanese officers stated on the time the 2 funds had been authentic guide’s charges, and a panel commissioned by the Japanese Olympic Committee stated in September 2016 that it had discovered the funds to be authentic.

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike stated she was “very stunned” by the information of the investigation.

Takeda, 71, has lengthy been concerned within the Olympics motion, having competed as a present jumper within the 1972 and 1976 video games. His great-grandfather was the Emperor Meiji and he’s the present emperor’s second cousin.

He has been a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee since 1987 and its president since 2001, serving to to coordinate the preparations for a number of Winter Olympics as a senior member of the Worldwide Olympic Committee (IOC).

Takeda attended a ceremony in Tokyo on Friday together with former prime minister Yoshiro Mori, the president of Tokyo 2020, in response to Mori’s workplace.

Reporting by Emmanuel Jarry in Paris, Ami Miyazaki and Elaine Lies in Tokyo, and Karolos Grohmann in Germany; Writing by Luke Baker; Enhancing by Richard Lough and Angus MacSwan